Here it is - The new Canopy

It took a little while but it is finally here thanks to efforts of too many people to mention here, but a special thanks has to go to the DeNeill's and Flederbach's who raised most of the funds through advertising in our Monterey Directory, the great Duck Race, as well as contributions from the House Committee and Social Activities.

Please take advantage and enjoy your picnics by the grill under the shade of our new Canopy.

Snowbird Update - Summer 2014

For residents left behind from the summer exodus, things this year are anything but dull at Monterey. In addition to the routine maintenance on the golf course and grounds, painting of the buildings is underway. Interspersing the three selected colors, crews began the painting project with buildings numbered 3 through 8 and are progressing quite rapidly across the complex, bringing about a dramatic change in the looks of the place that has had a remarkable effect.

Along with the painting, installation of new washers and dryers by a different crew is going on, starting with the first floor laundry rooms. To operate these new washing machines and dryers, tokens will be used in place of coins. Two tokens are required for the washer and one for the dryer, though the overall cost of completing a load is the same as before. The tokens, at fifty cents apiece, are available for purchase from a machine in the Main Clubhouse. Just insert a bill (a one-dollar bill, five, ten, or twenty) into a slot and tokens worth that amount are dumped into a cup.

Year-round residents are getting a head start, but if you are a Snowbird, all this is excitement is waiting for you when you get back!

The Great Duck Race - 2014

At exactly two p.m. on a perfect March afternoon at Monterey, almost two hundred little yellow ducks were dumped into the Number Four pond to begin their race to the bridge, while a soft persistent breeze created tiny waves on the surface. The ducks were weighted to remain upright and each had a number on its underside for identification of winners. This race, as well as the barbeque lunch which preceded it, was a fund-raiser for a big, new canopy to cover an expanded picnic area.

The crowd of well-wishers, who had individually "purchased" ducks for ten dollars each, lined the banks. Some walked along the edge keeping up with the ducks, but many had brought folding chairs the better to enjoy the race. It was a smiling, jovial crowd, and the ducks performed perfectly, with the winner completing the route in under thirty minutes. The second and third quickly followed, and fish nets were put in motion to scoop out the entire field in a matter of minutes.

The three cash winners' names were promptly announced, and the owner of the very last little duck won a handsome consolation prize. The organizers earned a tidy profit for their cause, and observers will be chuckling and trading stories about this event for weeks to come.

Spring Karaoke at Monterey, April 2014

Now that partygoers at Monterey have experienced the heady thrill of karaoke at least once a year, those who have even a slight bent toward performing behind a microphone all showed up for the final pop at stardom on this season's social calendar.

With no song sheets to go by, groups at the tables were free to choose far and wide. Why, then, were Sweet Caroline and New York, New York two of the earlier selections? These are two pieces that never miss and are decidedly on their way to becoming Karaoke standards here. Maybe their popularity is just that they are great songs, both lively and familiar. Another song that some lucky group always ends up choosing is the very forceful and amusing Tequila. This one in particular is just as much fun for the audience as it is for the performers.

There was no stopping that charming group that was so big they occupied both of the last two tables. They joyously swarmed into the spotlight time and time again, never running out of song titles to present. Now a Karaoke feature were two very appealing duets that we love to hear. May I Have This Dance for the Rest of My Life? and You Don't Know Me were delivered, as always, with pizzazz and sincerity to the enjoyment of all.

Finally, after some line dancing features and a bit of dessert, groups began to depart, and with a little imagination, you could hear a familiar voice declare, "That's all, Folks!

Bocce Madness at Monterey - 2014

What started in January, 2007 as a pleasant way for men to fill their time on Wednesdays while the women were occupying the golf course, is now a full-blown extravaganza at Monterey. Bocce for women began in 2009, two years after the men's teams were organized, and amazingly there was enough interest to fill both Tuesdays and Thursdays with women's teams playing a nine-week schedule. By that time, the men's participation had expanded to include both Wednesdays and Mondays, and at the close of that season the first tournament of couples vying for a championship was held in March. The leaders called it "March Madness." This rather predictable contest has exploded into a huge chart of pairings over a two-week period to conclude the bocce season, and all players are welcome to take part. Each participating couple is given one opportunity to move up from one level of competition to the next. The final evening, when the championship will be decided, brings over a hundred spectators to the bocce court dragging chairs and balancing beverages the better to see and enjoy the fun and suspense. Yes, you're allowed to holler and cheer on your favorites, and the crowd has even more fun than the players, with the end result quite worthy of the title.